Coach-step and operating mechanism.



W. B. ROGERS.

COACH STEP AND OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR.23, 1914.

1, 1 14,91 5, Patented 0011.27, 1914.

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W. B. ROGERS.

COACH STEP AND OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR.23,1914. 1 1 1 4, 9 1 5 Patented Oct. 27, 1914.

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COACH-STEP ANI) OPERATING MECHANISM.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, VVILLIAM BnYsoN Booms, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lucas, in the county of Lucas and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coach-Steps and Operating Mechanism; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in steps for use in connection with railway coaches and the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a simply constructed supplemental step, adapted to be raised and lowered at will and to provide both manual and mechanical means for raising said step, it being adapted to lower by gravity.

To the above end, I employ certain novel features of construction and combination herein described and shown in the drawings wherein- Figure 1 is an end elevation of a portion of a railway coach showing the application of my improved car step and its operating mechanism thereto; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a portion of the parts illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of a portion of one of the platforms of the coach showing the arrangement of the mechanically and manually operated means for raising said step; Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view through one of the air cylinders; and Fig. 5 is a detail vertical section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, showing more particularly the manner in which the catch, to be described, may be tripped by hand.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown, in the several views, a portion of a railway coach C having the usual platform P, steps S and rail R across the outer end of the platform.

The steps S are supported in the usual manner by the side boards B which are rigidly secured at their upper ends, to the opposite sides of the platform. For the sake of illustration, I have shown the steps on but one side of the platform P, this being deemed sufficient, since the structure, on the opposite side of the platform, is an exact duplication of the parts so far described and to be hereinafter described.

Each side board B, of the steps S, is provided with a laterally extending journali pin Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 23, 1914.

Patented Oct. 27, 1914.

Serial No. 833,960.

1, upon which rollers 2 are revolubly mounted, said rollers passing through slots 3 in side plates 4 of my improved supplemental s ep.

The side plates 4 may be formed of any suitable material and preferably have their corners beveled off as shown at 5 for the sake of lightness and appearance. The lower ends of said plates 4 are horizontally disposed as shown at 6 and are rigidly connected by an integral step 7and bya riser 8 whlch projects upwardly from the rear edge of said step. The upper ends of the plates 4 are rigidly connected by a transverse bar 10, said bar preferably having its opposite ends turned upwardly and riveted at 11 to said plates 4. The bar 10 contacts with the under side of the side boards B, and slides loosely between said boards and a guide bar 12 which is secured, at its opposite ends, to any suitable portions of the steps S.

For the purpose of retaining the step 7 in raised position, I provide the mechanism now to be described: Secured to the central portion of the cross bar 10 is a chain or cable 18, said chain or cable passing over a guide pulley l4 and being secured at its opposite end, to a coil spring 15, said spring having its free end rigidly secured to one end of a plunger 16. The plunger 16 is slidably mounted in a pair of guides or bearings 17 said bearings being spaced a suitable distance to provide ample space for the latch mechanism to be described.

From the construction so far described, it will be seen that when the plunger 16 is retracted, the step 7 will be raised. For the purpose of retracting said plunger, I provide an air cylinder 18 having a dis charge nipple 19 and an air inlet pipe 20 in one end while its opposite end is provided with a suitable opening through which the outer end of a plunger 21 projects, said plunger being carried by a piston 22, both said plunger and said piston being normally retracted by a coil spring 23 within the cyli The inder and encircling the plunger 21. outer end of said plunger 21 is adapted to contact with a lateral extension 24, project ing from the outer end of the plunger 16.

The opposite end of the pipe 20 communiw cates with the interior of a valve 25, while i said valve communicates with an air pressure pipe 26, said pipe extending longitudi nally throughout the length of the coach and having suitable couplings 27 on its opposite ends. Thus it will be seen that when the valve has been opened, air under pressure will flow through the pipe 20 and enter the cylinder 18 in rear of the piston 22,

the force of said air now acting to project said piston and the plunger 21 and thus move the plunger 16 inwardly, this movement of said plunger pulling upon the chaln 13 and raising the step 7. As the piston 18 moves outwardly, the spring 23 will be compressed and a small amount of air will escape from the nipple 19. When however, the valve 25 is closed, the spring 23 will eX- ert its tension to retract said piston 18 and the plunger 21, the remaining air behind said piston, being new slowly discharged through the nipple 19, thus allowing the parts to assume their normal positions.

In carrying out the invention, it becomes expedient to provide mechanically operated means for retaining the plunger 16 in. retracted position and for releasing said plunger when it becomes necessary to allow the step 7 to drop. For this purpose, I employ a catch 27 in the form of a bell crank lever having one of its arms pivoted at 28 within a recess 29 formed in one side of a guide or hearing block 30, said block being centrally located between the bearings 17. The catch 27 is provided at its corner, with a nose 31 which is adapted to be forced by ment with a shoulder 33, the latter being formed on one side of the plunger 16.

In order that the catch 27 may be readily tripped, to allow the step 7 to descend, I provide an air cylinder 34 in which a plunger 35 is slidably mounted. The construction of the cylinder 34 and the arrangement of parts therein, is identical with the cylinder 18 and further description is not thought to be necessary. The outer end of the cylinder 34 communicates through a pipe 36, with the interior of a valve 37, said valve being in communication with the pressure pipe 26. By this construction, it will be seen that when the valve 37 is opened, the plunger 35, which normally contacts with the free arm of the catch 27, will force said free arm outwardly and will thus retract the nose 31 from its engagement with the shoulder 33.

Although the valves 25 and 37, could. be operated in any appropriate manner, I preferably provide said valves with operating arms 38 and 39 to which rods 40 and 41 are pivotally connected, the opposite ends of said rods beingpivoted to the outer ends of crank arms 42 and 43 which are carried respectively upon the lower ends of upright rods 44 and 45, said last mentioned rods rising through the platform P and having their upper ends squared as shown at 46. The rods 44 and 45 are preferably revolubly mounted in an inwardly extending arm 47 which is secured at its outer end to the top of the rail B. By squaring the upper ends of the rods 44 and 45, a suitable key or operating handle (carried by the conductor or brakeinan) may be engaged with either of said rods and thus they may be turned to open or close the valves 25 and 27 to produce the efiects hereinbefore set forth.

As before suggested, I provide means by which the plunger 16 and the catch 2-7 may be operated by hand. To this end I attach one end of a cable 47 t0 the inner endof the plunger 16, pass said cable around suitable guide pulleys 48 and attach its free end to a drum 49, said drum being located beneath the platform P, and provided with an upright operating rod or shaft 50 which is revolubly mounted in the arm 47, carried by the rail B, and carries upon its upper end, a crank 52. If found desirable, the crank 52 may be omitted and the upper end of the rod 50 may be squared for the reception of the same operating handle hereinbefore mentioned. By this construction, it will be seen that the rotation of the drum 49, by the i crank 52 or other means, will wind the cable 47 and will thus pull inwardly upon the plunger 16 until the nose 31 of the catch 27 engages the shoulder 33 on said plunger. In ithis position, the step 7 will be secured in raised position as before suggested.

the tension of a coil spring 32, into engagei Z means by which the catch 27 may be tripped by hand, this means and the drum and cable being provided in case the air system should It now becomes expedient, to provide fail to operate. To this end, I provide the frec end f the bell crank, forming the catch 27, with an upright stud 53 which rises through a slot 54, in the platform P, said slot being normally covered by an upwardly opening door 55 which is inset in the top of the platform and therefore forms noobstrucation thereon.

Although the operation of the invention,

would probably be understood from the foregoing description, it may be well to give a detail explanation covering all steps necessary in releasing said step 7, to allow it to @drop and in retracting the plunger 16, to raise said step. lVith the parts standing as shown in Fig. 3, should it become necessary to allow the step 7 to'dro-p, the valve 37 may be operated by the hereinhefore described means whereupon, should the air system properly operate, the plunger 35 will be projected, thus releasing the catch 27 and allowing the weight of the step 7 and the parts secured thereto, to move the plunger 16 outwardly until its extension 24 contacts with the plunger 21'. If the air system fails to operate, the door 55 may be raised and the catch 27 may be moved by the stud 53, thus producing the same effect. In either case, the outward movement of the plunger 16 is sufficient to allow the step 7 to drop until' ing said plunger and consequently raising the step 7 When the use of the step 7 is no longer needed, the valve 25 may be opened, by the before described means and the air, flowing through the pipe 20, and into the cylinder 18, will project the piston 22 and the plunger 21 which will push inwardly upon the extension 24 of the plunger 16 and will consequently retract said plunger untilv the nose 31 again engages the shoulder 33. As before suggested, should the air system refuse to operate, the drum 49 may be rotated in the above described manner, thus pulling upon the cable 17 and retracting the plunger 16.

l/Vhen the mechanism is actuated, for raising the step 7, should a person be standing upon said step, it becomes expedient to provide means for preventing said step from rising until it is clear of weight. For this purpose, I have employed the coil spring 15 the action of which and the hereinbefore described parts, will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanatlon.

Various changes in form, proportion and minor details may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination with a platform and a flight of steps depending therefrom, of a supplemental step mounted to rise and fall beneath said flight, an operating plunger slidable toward and away from said flight, a connection between said plunger and said supplemental step for raising the latter when the plunger is retracted, means for retracting said plunger and a releasable catch for retaining the same in retracted position.

2. The combination with a platform and a flight of steps depending therefrom, of a supplemental step mounted to rise and fall beneath said flight, an operating plunger slidable toward and away from said flight, a connection between said plunger and said supplemental step for raising the latter when the plunger is retracted, a fluid operated plunger for retracting said operating plunger, and a releasable catch for retaining the same in retracted position.

3. The combination with a platform and a flight of steps depending therefrom, of a supplemental step mounted to rise and fall beneath said flight, an operating plunger slidable toward and away from said flight,

a connection between said plunger and said supplemental step for raising the latter when the plunger is retracted, a lateral projection on said operating plunger, a fluid pressure cylinder at the outward limit of movement of said projection, a plunger slidable within said cylinder and projecting through the end thereof adjacent the projection, a valved pressure inlet into said cylinder behind the plunger, and a releasable catch for retaining said operating plunger in retracted position.

4.. The combination with a platform and a flight of steps depending therefrom, of a supplemental step mounted to rise and fall beneath said flight, an operating plunger slidable toward and away from said flight, a connection between said. plunger and said supplemental step for raising the latter when the plunger is retracted, means for retracting said plunger, and a spring pressed fluid operated catch for retaining said plunger in retracted position.

5. The combination with a platform and i a flight of steps depending therefrom, of a supplemental step mounted to rise and fall beneath said flight, an operating plunger slidable toward and away from said flight, a connection between said plunger and said supplemental step for raising the latter when the plunger is retracted, means for retracting the plunger, a shoulder on said plunger, a pivoted spring pressed catch adapted to abut said shoulder when the plunger is retracted, and a fluid pressure operated pluncrating plunger.

6. The combination with a platform and a flight of steps depending therefrom, of a supplemental step mounted to rise and fall beneath said flight, an operating plunger slidable toward and away from said flight, a connection between said plunger and said supplemental step for raising the latter when the plunger is retracted, means for retracting the plunger, a shoulder on said plunger, a catch in the form of a bell crank lever pivoted at one of its ends and having a nose at its angle for coaction with said shoulder for retaining the plunger in retracted position, a spring for rocking said catch into contact with the shoulder, a fluid pressure cylinde' adjacent the free end of the catch, a plunger slidable therein and in contact with said free end, and a valved pressure inlet into said cylinder behind the plunger.

7. The combination with a platform and a flight of steps depending therefrom, of a supplemental step mounted to rise and fall beneath said flight, operating means for retracting said step and an elastic connection connected with said step and with said operating means.

8. The combination with a platform and a flight of steps depending therefrom, of a supplemental step mounted to rise and fall beneath said flight, a plunger :movabletoward and away from said flight and an elastic connection connected with said plunger and said supplemental step.

'9. The combination with a platform, and a flight of steps depending therefrom and having parallel side members, of guides carried by said members, side plates mounted on said guides for upward and downward movement, a supplemental step connecting the lower ends of said plates, a cross bar connecting the upper portions of the plates and underlying the side members of the 15 flight of steps, an operating element attached to said cross bar and means attached to said element for retracting the same to raise the supplemental step.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 20 my hand in presence of two subscribmg Wit- Copies of this patent may 'be obtained for 'five centsea'ch, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washingtomfl C. 

